Before the Sand Slips Away

Imagine that you are on the beach. You are four years old. The
camp leader has told you that you have five minutes to build a
great castle.

"Quickly," your three year old Ameer tells you, "the sand here
is too soft. Run closer to the water and get better sand!"

Off you run and grab, with your tiny hands, as much sand as you
can hold. But, as you run back, plop, plop, plop, you feel the sand
slipping through your fingers. You can do nothing about it. In your
haste, all the sand has slipped away. Bang. The competition is
over. This is the analogy of our lives. This is the analogy of our
time in Ramadan.

For many living in Western countries, Ramadan is passed daily
with 9 to 5 jobs or school - nights where we may or may not go for
Taraweeh. A peak at the TV (may Allah protect us) and the night is
over. Back to work where all around us people are eating and
drinking from crystal water fountains. Blink. Ramadan is over.

The question of the hour is: how do we take full advantage of
this gift of Allah? This is our topic, before the sands of Ramadan
slip away.

How many years have we been fasting Ramadan? 10 or 15 or 40
years? Are we 10 or 15 or 40 times better? Or, does it seem like we
have arrived back at the drawing board every time Ramadan comes
around? All acts of worship are for our own benefit! Don't do it
and harm befalls you, which is the way life was programmed.

Ramadan is no small matter. It is one of the pillars of this
Deen of Islam - without it one's Islam would not be complete. In
this month, Rasul Allah - sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam - would
intensify his worship of Allah ta'ala. In doing so, he laid the
foundation for his Ummah after him to emulate.

Ibn AlQayyim - rahimahullaah - wrote: "From his blessed guidance
- sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam - in Ramadan is that he used to
intensify and diversify his actions of worship. So, for example,
Jibreel used to rehearse the Qur'an with him during the nights of
Ramadan. When Jibreel would visit him, he would intensify the
amount of Sadaqah that he would give. He was the most generous out
of all people - sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam - and Ramadan was the
time when he was most generous. In Ramadan, he would fill his time
with Sadaqah, treating people kindly, reciting Qur'an, performing
Salah, remembering Allah, and performing I'tikaaf." - from the book
'Zaad AlMa'aad'

Observers described the way Allah's Messenger- sal Allaahu
alayhi wa sallam - gave like Ar-Reeh AlMursalah, like the blessed
wind. Why? The blessed wind, as they knew it, was a wind that
brought coolness to everyone - no one was denied its blessing. The
blessed wind, additionally, was not lazy in bringing its goodness
to the people. It would come swiftly to all. This is how Rasul
Allah - sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam - was described, and this is
how our service to humanity should be: swift and encompassing. Bi
idhnillah.

Below are ten ideas to and help make the most of Ramadan -
before it slips through our hands.

Idea one: Compound Your Siyaam!
If you told your financial broker that you just want to keep money
in the bank and save it, he would say, "You are wrong." "Invest it
in the stock market. That way your money will be compounded - you
will earn multiple times what you put in." So now I ask the
question: Wouldn't you love to get two times the reward of fasting
Ramadan? How?

Zayd ibn Khaalid AlJuhanee narrates that the Prophet - sal
Allaahu alayhi wa sallam - said, "Whoever gives a fasting person
(food) to break his or her fast, he (the one feeding) will get the
reward equivalent to the (fasting persons) reward - without
diminishing anything from the reward of the (fasting person)."

How do we do this? Ask any Muslim relief agency if they have a
feed a fasting person program. Subhan Allah, you may find that it
only costs $1 to feed a person! So, for $30 you could come out of
Ramadan having doubled your reward.

And, we should not forget the needy in our city. We think that
in a 'modern' western country or city there are no needy people.
That is not true. There are many needy families that are waiting to
be discovered. Ask around and you will find a gold mine of people
to help, in your own backyard.

I speak about Washington, DC. If one was to have a food drive,
all the food could go to needy Muslim families in DC and still not
be enough! I've seen this with my own eyes. How blessed it would be
to get the youth that just hang out in the back of the Masjid
during Taraweeh to take on this task. Organize the collection of
the food and distribute it. It can happen! It just takes a leader
with vision to set this up for the youth and all the good people
who want to make a difference.

Idea two: Operation Guide the Youth
Often in Ramadan, there are khaatirahs, words of wisdom, halaqahs
and reminders, all geared to the adults praying Taraweeh. The
youth, it seems, are being disrespectful by talking in the back of
the masjid.

"Shhhhhsh!" someone shouts at them. "Listen or go outside (and
we prefer if you just go outside)!" So, quietly they sneak out of
the Masjid and chat and chill all Ramadan. How Eman boosting is
that? Remember, Allah commands that you protect your wife and
children also.

Try this: Just like there are things for the adults, we could
have Ramadan activities and reminders geared specifically for the
youth. And, it need not be 'in' the Masjid. Let's say the youth
like to chat and chill outside in the parking lot. Why not organize
the activity there? Yes, on the basketball court or in the parking
lot. Have a 5-minute Khatirah, play games with them, and give them
some noble projects to complete in Ramadan.

Again, making a difference like this needs a leader with vision,
one who recognizes that the youth are his or her responsibility. I
pray that person is you!

Idea Three: Turnoff TV Month
Every parent knows that when they want their child to do well in
their studies they tell them, "no TV." If this is for Dunya, then
how about someone who wants to excel in Ramadan?

"Fasting and the Qur'an will come and testify on behalf of the
'Abd on the Day of Resurrection. The Fasting will say: O my lord, I
denied him food and desires, so allow me to be a means for him to
enter paradise. And the Qu'ran will say: O my Lord, I denied him
sleep at night so allow me to be a means for him to enter Paradise.
And (he will be entered into paradise) because of those two." -
Musnad Ahmad

Try this: Announce in your household that Ramadan is the
official turnoff TV month. Be an example for others and do fun and
rewarding things instead. Visit people, take on a Ramadan feeding
project, increase yourself in knowledge, etc. Turn off the TV and
turn on life.

Idea Four: Dua' Time
Ramadan is the month of making dua' to Allah, an essential
compliment to fasting. Rasul Allah - sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam -
said, "There are three persons dua' that will be accepted (by
Allah). The fasting person, the oppressed one, and the
traveler."

Try this: Make a list of all your goals in life. Make a section
for your a) personal goals; b) spiritual goals; c) economic goals;
and d) contribution goals. Every day during Ramadan, take out your
list and make dua' to Allah to grant you the tawfeeq to accomplish
your goals. Insha Allah, you will attain your goals with hard work,
both during and after Ramadan.

Idea Five: Parent Appreciation Month
We all know that the one who wakes us up for Suhoor is our mom. I
know it was for me. If not for her alarm clock, her early morning
cooking, her motherly love to go and wake everyone up . well, let's
just say our iftars would have become our suhoors. If you are
living away from your parents, you know what I'm talking about.

Remember the hadith of the person who doesn't reach Ramadan with
forgiveness? The end part of the Hadith says they found their
parents in old age and they were not a means for him to enter
Jannah!

So, why not announce it loud and clear this month, "Thank you
Mom! Thank you Dad!" Let's take care of them this month with extra
calls, extra hugs, and extra love.

Idea Six: Masjid Power Hour
During Ramadan, why not spend a few more moments in the Masjid
before taking off. This could be done after Fajr or after Asr. Sit
back, grab a Qur'an and remember Allah. As your time in the Masjid
increases, bi idhnillaah, your love and heart attachment will
increase. Make this your personal Masjid power hour.

Idea Seven: Bad Habit Buster
Many people already do this. They may have a smoking problem or a
TV addiction. When Ramadan comes around they say, "I'm going to
train myself to stop smoking or to stop watching excessive TV by
abandoning it throughout Ramadan."

So, you don't have a smoking problem huh? Everyone has a bad
habit and everyone has a recurring sin they pray they could desist
from. Make Ramadan the training month by telling yourself to go
without this sin for the entire month. Then, if Allah grants one
Tawfeeq to complete the month, one should continue to pray to Allah
to keep them away from the sin after Ramadan.

Idea Eight: The Gift Groove
Have you ever noticed how beloved a bottle of perfume is when it is
handed out by a little four year old Muslim? Everyone loves a
gift.

Why not take this a step forward? Go to your local Islamic
bookstore and request a bulk purchase of some beneficial Islamic
materials, something in the $1 range. Then, hand it out to everyone
that comes to your masjid. Bi idhnillaah, you will find for the
little effort one may put, people all throughout Ramadan will be
learning from the gift.

Idea Nine: Ramadan Muslims, Convert!
It is true that on the first day of Ramadan, the number of Muslims
in the local Masjid multiplies considerably. And, it is a sad
moment on the first day after Ramadan that the Masjid attendance
drops significantly. This idea is Operation No More Ramadan
Muslims. We want people all year long!

Ibn Abbas I'tikaaf: A man came to Ibn Abbas while he was doing
I'tikaaf in the masjid and asked him for his assistance. So, Ibn
Abbas stood to leave and people around him warned him, 'but you are
in I'tikaaf'. He replied, "To assist my brother in fulfilling his
need is more beloved to me than to perform I'tikaaf for 2 months in
the Masjid of Rasul Allah - sal Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam."

Try this: Make a 'compassion crew' that reaches out specifically
to Ramadan Muslims. Extra special attention is showered on them and
roles of responsibility are delegated to them so that they can
participate more in the Masjid. Invite them to special Iftars where
they are the center of attention.

With this extra attention and responsibility, bi idhnillaah,
every month will be Ramadan for them and the masjids will be full
all year.

Idea Ten: Home Halaqah
Muslim families often keep their worship for the Masjid, but why
not make Muslim family time at home. It could work like this: After
Taraweeh or Asr, the family gathers together for 15 minutes. There
are many things you could do in your Halaqah, the main thing is
that you set time aside for it.

For example, each family member may recite a few verses of
Qur'an. Or, one of the kids can read a story of the Sahaabah so
that all family members can be reminded. Or, each family member can
speak about the blessings of Allah upon them and what they have in
their lives for which they are thankful.

Just 15 minutes for the home Halaqah. For the entire family, bi
idhnillah, it will be a spring of Eman.